Flexible urinal



March 1959 w. STEGEMAN FLEXIBLE URINAL Filed July 11, 1955 INVENTOR. WILSON STEGENAN I BY ATTORNEYS A iam United t tes Pat n 7 2,875,451 FLEXIBLE URINAL Wilson StegemamSanta Rosa, Calif. Application Jul 11,1955, Serial No. 521,262

ma cl. 4-110 2 This invention relates to urinalsl 3U An object 1 of the present invention isrto provide a flexible. urinal that has a leak-proof, self-contained, simple and positive closing means that canbe used quickly and quietly, in the dark or in bed, without fear of spilling or ofan accident. 1 Another object of this invention isto provide a flexible urinal that quickly and easily can be turned inside out for cleaning purposes so that all surfaces and crevices of the bag can be thoroughly washedwithsoap and water. A A- furtherobject of the invention is to provide a flexible urinal that has no loose or separate parts that can be misplaced or lost.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a flexible urinal that can be quietly and easily used, easily put out of sight after use, and thereafter inconspicuously transported to the bathroom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible urinal that is collapsible when not in use so it can be easily and inconspicuously stored or carried about.

The usual bed urinal has a tendency toward spillage both in its usage in bed and while being carried to the bathroom. A flexible urinal of the type of my invention can be used without danger of spilling and thereafter it can be quickly, easily and positively closed so that it cannot spill or leak.

There are a number of people who find it necessary to void urine one or more times a night because of the inability of their urinary bladders to accommodate a sufficient amount of fluid to pass an entire night without urinating. Many times, when such persons visit or travel, this proves not only annoying but quite embarrassing. The present invention is designed to alleviate such annoy ance and embarrassment. This invention is also designed for the convenience of persons who are confined to bed by sickness or are invalids or cripples.

One form that the invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the flexible urinal embodying the concepts of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the neck of the urinal rolled and held in closed condition.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a modified form of the neck construction of said flexible urinal. i

Fig. 5 shows this modified form of Figs. 3 and 4 with the neck in open condition.

My flexible urinal comprises an elongated, flexible collapsible bag 10, preferably made of rubber or plastic, formed with bellowed or folded side construction as shown at 11 so that said bag can hold a large volume of fluid. The said bag 10 has a relatively wide opening 12 to permit the bag portion thereof to be readily turnedinside out through a relatively wide elongated neck 13 formed at the opening 12 of said bag. At the closed end of the bag 10 is a pair of tabs 14, one extending outwardly of the bag and the other extending inwardly of said bag. These tabs are to facilitate hanging the bag up to dry after the same has been washed. The relatively wide elongated neck 13 facilitates the turning of the bag r and water. The tabs 14 are placed both on the outside and inside of the bag so that the said tabs can be employed either when the urinal is inits normal condition or when inside out since the bag can be used with equal facility in either condition. Allurinals that are notcapable of being turned inside. out to permit the frequent thorough cleansing of all their:surfaces and crevices eventually collect a residue from urine on their inner surfaces, which eventually become covered with a precipitate which' resists all efforts to cleanse them thoroughly. In time this leads to irretrievable fouling. i The terminal end of the neck 13 is open as indicated at 13a and affixed to one side of the open end of the neck 13a is a tubular member 15 that has inserted therethrough a rigid elongated member .16 that extends transversely of the neck 13 beyond opposite sides of the neck, when the same is in flattened or collapsed condition. Said member16 fits snugly in the tubular member 15 so that it cannot slip, out and become lost. The member 16 has a groove 17 formed in one end thereof. Adjacent the other end of the member 16 and spaced inwardly therefrom is an open eye 19. A flexible elastic loop 20 is passed through and held in place by said eye 19. Additional eyes 18 and 18a are formed in the member 16 inwardly from the ends thereof as indicated.

After a person has urinated in said urinal the neck 13 is rolled about the member 16 and when a suflicient amount of the said neck has been so rolled on the said member 16 to cause said neck opening to be completely sealed so that the urinal becomes closed and leakproof, the elastic loop 20 is stretched over the portion of the neck 13 that is rolled on the member 16 and the loose end of said elastic. loop 20 is engaged in the groove 17 as illustrated in Fig. 2. In this way the urinal is quickly, simply and positively sealed and no fluid can spill or leak therefrom. This operation of closing the urinal can be accomplished easily in the dark or in bed. The closing operation is simple enough so that elderly persons, bed ridden persons or persons suflering from arthritic or stiff finger joints can perform it with little trouble. If need be, a person can re-open the urinal, use it again, and thereafter easily close it in the same manner. The urinal can then be safely and quietly dropped to the floor alongside the bed, without fear of spillage or leakage. In the morning, after use, the user can inconspicuously carry the urinal to the bathroom and empty it. After the urinal has been drained, turned inside out and thoroughly washed and cleaned, it can be hung up by one of the tabs 14 to dry or it can be dried with a towel, easily and quickly folded up and put away out of sight. The urinal is so constructed that it can be used either when in its normal condition or when turned inside out.

The eyes 18 and 18a can also be used to attach the urinal to a belt worn by a person who is unconscious. By this means the urinal is held in place in the event of urination by a person in such condition.

In Fig. 3 there is shown a modification of the construction of the neck 13 of the urinal. This modified construction is to facilitate use of the urinal by females. The said modified neck 13 has a flexible rubber ring 21 afiixed to the terminal end of said neck 13 that ordinarily holds the neck 13 in a collapsed flat condition as shown in Fig. 4. When pressure is applied to the: opposite ends 22 of said flexible rubber ring 21, the said ring and neck open as shown in Fig. 5. This.open ring can then be held in place over the vulva of a female and urination V Patentedhllar. 3, 1959 can be accomplished without leakage or accident. It is also possible to imbed in the rubber ring 21 a metal leaf spring that will function as the flexible rubber ring. After use, the ring 21 and the neck 13 of this modified constructioncbllapses and becomes fiat; and itcan be rolled about the member 16 and the elastic loop. 20 cart be stretched over the portion of the neck 13 so rolled upon the member 16 and engaged in the groove 17 for positive sealing thereof. 4

While I" have shown and described the: preferred form of the invention; it is obvious that various changes may be made in its constructionby those skilled in the artwi'thou't departing from the spirit of the invention as defined inthe appended claims.

I Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desireto' secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A urinal bag of flexible waterproof material coins prising'a'bag portion, anelongated neck portion flaringoutwa'rdly fi'om the top of said bagtportion and terminat ing in a widened mouth, said bag and neck portions having unobstructedsubstantially identical inner and outer walls substantially uniformly flexible throughout and being capable of being turned inside out through said mouth, a roll-forming means attached to the outer end of said neck portion above said mouth upon whichthe necl may be rolled to seal the bag when said neck and bag portion are in either inside in or inside out positions; and fastening means carried-by the roll-forming means for .releasably securing the rolled neck in its bag, sealing position.

2. A urinal bag as set forth in claim 1 further including a hanging tab fixed to the bottom of said bag and extending outwardly therefrom, and a hanging tab fixed to the bottom of said bag and extending inwardly 7 thereof.

ing resilient means formed in the outerend of said neck for normally holding the mouth in flat collapsed position and movable to distended position by squeezing pressure applied at the ends thereof.

References Cited the file-oi this patent v STATES PATENTS 

